​Day 54 – February 23, 2021

​Day 54 – February 23, 2021
Scriptures: Leviticus 11, 2 Corinthians 11, Psalm 56
 
Psalm 56:11-13
“In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere human beings do to me?  12 I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
 
2 Corinthians 11:24–25
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…”
 
Leviticus 11:45
“I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.”
 
 
It is important as Christians that we understand the purpose of the clean and unclean animals in Leviticus. They served a specific purpose as a distinguishing marker of identity for the Israelites. They would be set apart as a holy people by observing the clean and unclean animal laws. The purpose of the laws of God are to distinguish the Israelites as a separate and holy people from the world.
 
I can’t find a strong connection between the three separate chapters today. For two of them, I see a great connection. Psalm 56 is a declaration of trust and not being afraid of humankind. Psalm 56 is a vow to trust in the Lord and to not be afraid of anything other than God! And in 2 Corinthians, Paul makes a note to tell of all that he has gone through for the sake of the Gospel. He’s been tried, beaten and shipwrecked for his faith. David’s words in Psalm 56 are practically Paul’s testimony of his trust in God after all he had been through.
 
Upon further reflection, the connection to the three chapters is perhaps, the distinguishing marks of faithfulness. At times it might be simply refraining from something that God calls unclean. And at other times it might mean enduring something for the sake of God.
 
Both enduring for the sake of the Gospel, and abstaining for the sake of separation from the world, distinguishes us as God’s people. 
 
There are consequences to trusting in God and facing the realities of a broken world. But for Paul, and David, and the Israelites, it is completely worth the trials, to be known as a child of God.
 
The connection is that in all things we can point to the glory and praise to God.
 
Be holy as the Lord himself is holy.
 
Jordan